Authorities Respond to Threat at Le Mars Community High School (Updated)

(Le Mars) –– The Le Mars Community High School and Middle School this afternoon were in a “lock-out” which meant nobody was allowed in or out of the building following a threat that was found within the school. The incident began shortly
after 1:00 p.m. Le Mars Police, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Highway Patrol, and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department all responded to the school grounds. Fire trucks were used to block off the streets surrounding the school,
while authorities did a search inside the school. Students were kept in class while the incident was happening, and some parents gathered around the perimeter of the school, obviously concerned about the safety of their children, when they
were notified by either social media or cell phone calls and texts. Within about an hour, the incident had been resolved. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte appeared before the news media and read a statement from Le Mars Community School Superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner.

Vande Vegte did not give the age of the student in question. Following the conclusion of the incident, some parents came to the school to pick up their children. Chief Vande Vegte says the Le Mars Police patrols each of the schools on a daily basis.

Chief Vande Vegte emphasized there were no shots fired inside or anywhere around the school. The students were safe, and an individual has been placed under arrest for making the threat against the school. Classes will resume as normal on Thursday.

News Release From Le Mars Police Department:

On February 14th at 1300 hours, the Le Mars Police Department was notified of an incident at the Le Mars Community High School involving a note that was found in a classroom that threaten harm to others. The Le Mars Community School followed protocol and contacted the Le Mars Police Department immediately and put the school into a lockout status. Le Mars officers arrived on scene at 1302 hours and began an immediate investigation. Other officers arriving on scene provided a safe perimeter of the entire school. Outcome of the investigation found that a 14 year old student had left the note. The student was detained and transported to the Le Mars Police Department at 1409 hours. The 14 year old was later transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Cherokee on a charge of Threat of Terrorism, a class D felony. Officers remained on scene until the end of the school day. Le Mars officers will continue to walk the halls each Le Mars school on a daily basis as well as their routine school patrol. The school district is functioning as normal.

Here is a release from Le Mars Community School Superintendent:

Today, school officials were notified with a note of a threatening nature found in a high school classroom. As protocol requires, Le Mars Police Department were immediately contacted, the school went into lockout mode, and an investigation was immediately started. Outcome of that investigation found a student had left a note with a potential threat to harm others. It was found that at no time was there a threat to any student, at any time. This threat is unfortunate, but precautionary measures were required.

The school district is now functioning as normal. Thank you to the Le Mars Police Department for their quick response and assistance in this matter.

Dr. Steve Webner
Superintendent
Le Mars Community Schools

Authorities were called to the Le Mars Community High School campus earlier this afternoon. KLEM new director Dennis Morrice has this report.